Fashion’s Night Out (aka FNO) took place this past Friday, September 10, 2010.  FNO was a world-wide event that was spearheaded from NYC, with retailers in other major cities hosting parties and special events to mainly encourage consumer spending by giving them a chance to interact face-to-face with the biggest names in Fashion, as well as getting them pretty hammered on free booze. Here in New York, it’s been seen as a tie-in event with New York Fashion Week. From the Upper West Side to Soho, shoppers ran amok;  and sipping cocktails while bouncing from store to store. And of course, you’re gal Susie G, was there to get in on some of the FNO action!

My first stop on the Tour de FNO, was to the StyleThirteen.com presentation and cocktail reception in the Soho/Nolita area. I think I was one of the first people there which was great because I got to talk to the event organizers and learn more about the featured designers. StyleThirteen.com is a website that helps promote and showcase unknown women’s designers from here in the US, and even fashion artists from abroad who have never done business in the US before. The main collection was from Icelandic duo Bjorg Ingadottir + Vaua Torfadottir that featured pieces that had an overall fitted, flowy shape with floor-length skirts, fitted mesh long-sleeed tops, and layered belts. The event also featured some amazing rings by British jewelry designer Hendrikka Waage. The designs of the rings were inspired by Russian domes (think Red Square) and Tibetan prayer scribes. Even though they were Eastern-inspired pieces, they definitely have Western appeal!

Next stop was the Ace Hotel in Chelsea to check out Opening Ceremony’s Parisian Flea Market. Ten seconds after I walk out of the subway, I am greeted by a massive queue of shoppers waiting to get into the Hotel. Of course, I was not a happy camper, but I decided to line up anyway. I give my friends a call who I was expecting to run into, and no one seemed to be there! After waiting for almost 20 minutes, I peace out of the line and head to INVEN.TORY back in Soho. I just hope there wasn’t any amazing Alexander Wang pieces on sale…..sigh.

I arrive at INVEN.TORY where I meet up with the rest of my FNO pack. Outside of the store, you could tell there was a pretty cool party going up in there. There was some great jewelry pieces there by an Australian artist who was talking to potential buyers about her own collection, and girl, what a sweetheart she was! The walls in the front of the store had some amazing photographs on display by Brantley Gutierez. The photos were all pictures of well-known musical acts performing at various concerts. I spotted Iggy Pop, Daft Punk (A-may! It’s my new word for “amazing”), Fiona Apple, Bjork, Radiohead, and Damian Marley in these gnarly photos. Free beverages were also provided by Pabst Blue Ribbon and Bushmills. I also got to meet a talented artist by the name of Jordan Walczak who was signing and doodling on the covers of CREEM magazine. There was also a pile of Cheap Mondays on sale for $39 that just made my day! I think I touched and caressed about every pair of jeans on that table – I’m not weird, I just love Cheap Monday jeans!

After walking a few blocks north into Noho, some other fellow FNO-ers and myself headed to the Bond Street Carnival. We got ahead of the crowd packed in front of OAK with the help of my friend, the stylish Alex Chapman, who was thankfully working the door. The boutique was offering shoppers a chance to customize freshly purchased items to create some truly unique looks for the downtown elite that filled up the shop that evening. One table was covered with patches and pins that you could choose to schlackle on a jacket or vest, while at another table you could get your tanks, tees, and leggings shredded with the help of LNA designers & founders Lauren Alexander and April Leight. Liquid yumminess was also provided by some tasty drinks from 42 Below Vodka. And a celebrity spotting of Adrian Grenier looking very casual to top it all off!

Note to self for next year’s FNO – Must wear stylish yet comfortable shoes (like the 80%20 Adair boots in Grey/Black) to have your feet withstand the hustle from shop to shop and still be able to out-fierce all those other crazed style vixens!